Please note how I have started the paragraphs so that they use the wording of the question. Those are the underlined bits.
Describe and explain the background and outcomes of an event that brought about political change . How did a historical force or movement related to this event have an influence on ordinary peoples lives at the time?
Event Hitler becoming dictator of Germany - sweeping aside democracy in favour of an autocratic dictatorship which was intolerant of difference and demanded the commitment and dedication of the ordinary German people to the advancement of a Nazi fascist German nationalism.
The historical force or movement, that was the Nazi Party, had a huge influence on the lives of ordinary German people: employment, national self-esteem, economic recovery, war, genocide, poverty and a Berlin Wall. (See how you can use this terminology - historical force or movement - in the same breath as the Nazi Party as I have done) Very sneaky!
When Adolf Hitler was made Chancellor for the democratic Weimar Republic government in Germany on 30 January 1933, an important political change was made.Instead of being a democratic socialist government, Hitler's government slowly became an autocratic dictatorship intolerant of difference, with its voice firmly advocating the advancement of German Nationalism and the unwavering commitment and sacrifice of individual Germans to this nationalism. The initial event that brought about this political change in Germany was Germany's loss of and blame for the First World War. This event was accompanied by the Treaty of Versailles, The Wall Street Crash, and an economic and political crisis. After Hitler became Chancellor, the Reichstag Fire enabled him to be granted Emergency Powers and ban the Communist Party. The Enabling Act then effectively allowed Hitler to turn Germany into an autocratic dictatorship led by the Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party (NAZI). The event of Hitler taking control of Germany as an autocratic dictator and eliminating the fledgling democracy, had a profound influence on the lives and liberties of ordinary people at the time. Nazism spread through the use of propaganda, brainwashing people into following Nazi idealogy. Germany became a terror state where citizens lived in fear of their government. Many historians believe that even if Hitler had not risen to power, it was unlikely that Germany would have remained as a democratic country because people wanted a strong leader-not an indecisive government which appeared weak in the face of all the economic, political and social challenges brought about by losing World War One.
As stated, the background to the event that brought about political change in Germany with the formation of a dictatorship and ending of a democracy, was Germany's loss of World War 1. The description of the background to this event can be described as a series of unwitting steps and responses by inexperienced democratic politicians in government during Weimar's Republic. Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles by the allies. The Kaiser lost all the army’s support and was forced to abdicate the throne. The Weimar Republic Government was formed on the 9th of November 1918 with Scheidemann as Chancellor and Ebert as the President. The Germans were very proud of their war effort and their soldiers and were thus humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles and felt betrayed that the new Government would sign the Treaty.The terms of the Treaty were tough: Germany had a great deal of land taken away and had to pay reparations with many other serious consequences. The Government attempted to overcome this issue by printing more money collapsing the value of currency. With little production but plenty of paper money, prices increased rapidly.
In 1919, the Socialist German Workers Party was formed and by 1921, Hitler was their leader. He immediately started promoting his ideas and began to gather supporters. This is also when Hitler claimed to have designed the Nazi Party’s emblem the swastika, and the S.A (Sturm Abteilung) was set up to give the movement the ability to terrorise. Because so many Germans felt betrayed by the Weimar Republic because of the Treaty of Versailles and their current econonmic crisis, Hitler felt it was time to take control of Germany through a violent takeover as he believed the people would support him instead of the humiliating Republic. This however was not the case as Hitler was arrested for what is known as the Beerhall Putsch where he and the S.A virtually kidnapped some Bavarian state leaders and forced them to join the revolt. While in prison, Hitler refined his ideas and dictated his book Mein Kampf –My Struggle. This is when Hitler realised that he would have to take control of the Republic Democratically. Hitler also gained public recognition at his trial for pointing out the governments failings. Although he was sentenced to five years in prison he was released after only six months.
Over the next few years, Hitler gained a large amount of support through public meetings and Nazi Propaganda, however this support decreased when Stresemann became Chancellor as he started to change the economy for the better. The economy prospered from 1923 to 1927 with unemployment halving and industry flourished with a large export trade. The Dawes Plan and the Young Plan were both introduced to help Germany's economy stabalise. This was not good for Hitler as up until this point, he had based his political campaigns on the failure of the Weimar Government, and as this was not happening, his support decreased. The Nazi Party continued to rally for democratic election. Luckily for Hitler, Stresemann died in 1929 and three weeks later, the Wall Street Crash occurred and Germany was once again, in an economic crisis. Germans began to panic as unemployment grew rapidly and their economy began to collapse once again. They began to look at extremist groups - Nazis and Communists alike - for the answer to their problems which is why Nazi’s support increased very rapidly over a short space of time. Hitler was able to promote his party and get seats in the Reichstag (Government) and their support continued to grow. Aided by propaganda chief, Dr. Goebbels, Hitler became well-known and Nazism spread throughout Germany. At this time, Hindenburg was president and the Chancellor was constantly changing which lead to many disagreements between those in the Reichstag causing many political crises. In a short space of time, many elections were held in which Hitler decided to run for President. Although narrowly missing out to Hindenburg, Hitler had achieved half the number of seats in the Reichstag. Although Hindenburg wasn’t sure Hitler could be trusted, the ex-chancellor told the president that Hitler could be controlled, and soon after on the 30th of January 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor. This appointment of Hitler, an autocratic dictator in democratic socialist disguise, to the position of Chancellor was to lead to important political change for Germany. Further, Hitler was able to use make use of a fire in the Reichstag to blame the Communist's agitation . He was able to persuade Hindenburg to grant him use of the emergency decree “The Reichstag Fire Decree”. Reichstagsbrandverordnung is the common name of the Order of the Reich President for the Protection of People and State : Verordnung des Reichspräsidenten zum Schutz von Volk und Staat). This decree on February 27th 1933 nullified many of the key civil liberties of German citizens. With Nazis in powerful positions in the German goverment, the decree was used as the legal basis for the imprisonment of anyone considered to be opponents of the Nazis, and to suppress publications not considered "friendly" to the Nazi cause. The decree is considered by historians to be one of the key steps in the establishment of a one-party Nazi state in Germany.which gave Hitler the right to pass laws without consulting Hindeburg or the Reichstag. Hitler used this power to ban Communist members of the Reichstag, effectively ridding himself of his strongest Parliamentary competition. Finally, on March 24, 1933, Hitler established his dictatorship by enacting the Enabling Act granting the Cabinet the authority to enact laws without the participation of the Reichstag. The Act initially provided that it would have effect for only four years, but it was formally renewed by the Reichstag in 1937 and 1941. The formal name of the Enabling Act was Gesetz zur Behebung der Not von Volk und Reich: "Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Reich.”. Hitler's Enabling Act effectively ended democracy and Hitler became a dictator with complete control over the German economy and society, and foreign and domestic policy. Therefore, it was the loss and blame for WW1 and having a weak, inexperienced democratic government to cope with economic and social disruption which provided the background to the event of Hitler becoming dictator in German. An event with brought about a marked political change because it dispensed with democracy and civil liberties in Germany.
The historical force or movement that was the German Nazi Party, had a profound influence on the lives of the ordinary German people. Hitler banned all other Political Parties, took over trade unions, took control of press, radio and cinemas, arrested Nazi opponents and issued an emergency law taking away press freedom and fair trial rights. The Nazi’s also used fear to control the republic using the SS and the Gestapo.Anyone who spoke out against the Nazi Party’s rules was executed creating a state of fear in the Germans. Women were kicked out of their jobs because they had to stay at home and look after their families thus it was ‘not appropriate’ for them to work. Before rising to power, Hitler made lowering unemployment rates one of his priorities, which he did by building a highway right through Germany. This gave thousands of people jobs, which appealed to the public, and unemployment began decreasing. All children from the age of 5 to 18 were all forced to join the Hitler Youth where physical activity was encouraged as was the knowledge of blood purity which the children also learnt as a subject at school. All propaganda was controlled by the Nazi Party and was all in favour of Hitler, creating the ‘Hitler Myth’ where Hitler is portrayed as a superhuman; a God-like figure. He was called Fuhrer. Dr Joseph Goebbels, head of Propaganda, controlled all of the media including newspapers, radio, movies, art, music and literature which had to be approved before it was allowed to appear in public. When Hitler first came to power, it looked as if he was going to leave religions to continue to operate in peace, especially after signing a concordat with the Catholic Church. Unfortunately this was short-lived, as he soon started executing priests and nuns, while promoting paganism as their ideal religion. At this point in time, almost all beliefs and values that German people held were in favour of the ‘ideal’ Nazi way of life, through the constant brainwashing. If a person thought differently or did not follow Nazi Policy, he or she was very likely to end up in a concentration camp or executed.
The ordinary German people had looked to Hitler to improve their lives both economically and spiritually. They looked for employment and the ability to achieve a national self-esteem. In some ways, this is true, he did help lower the level of unemployment in Germany, yet he also executed anyone who spoke out against his policies. The Treaty of Versailles, Beerhall Putsch, Wall Street Crash and political instability all contributed towards Hitler Becoming Chancellor. Once he was in power, the Reichstag Fire allowed him to be given emergency powers so he could ban the Communist Party. Then following with the Enabling Act, Hitler was able to pass laws himself and gain full control over Germany as the dictator.Hitler's becoming Chancellor was a significant political change for Germany as democracy gave way to an autocratic dictatorship intolerent of difference and demanding commitment and obedience to Nazi-styled German nationalism. German citizens were affected by the propaganda, fear of execution, Hitler Youth, and disruption of religion as Nazism spread throughout Germany in the years following Hitler being appointed as Chancellor. Although Hitler did brainwash people into following his own Nazi idealogy, one can clearly see that the preconditions for the ordinary German people to fall off the wagon of democracy and follow extreme solutions to their economic and social disruption, and damaged national pride were there. These preconditions led to the “main event” - Hitler wiping away democrary by becoming dictator of a Nazi fascist state. The historical force or movement, that was the Nazi Party served up profound changes for the ordinary German: economic recovery, regained national pride, war, genocide, poverty and a Berlin Wall.
P.S Don't confuse the words Nationalism with Nazism.
Explain how an historical force or movement influenced an individual and/or group to seek change. What were the consequences of actions taken by the individual or group to bring about change? Explain why they took this course.
FORCE = FACISM
INTRODUCTION - write an opening paragraph that briefly identifies:
-the force or movement FASCISM and its historical setting AFTER WW1 IN ITALY SPAIN JAPAN GERMANY
-the individual or group that wished to bring about change NAZIS
-the nature of the change that the individual or group wished to bring about- END THE DEMOCRACY OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC AND REPLACE IT WITH A NAZI GOVERNMENT
-the consequences of actions taken to bring about change. - EROSION OF WEIMAR REPUBLIC, RIGHTS, FREEDOMS AND REPERCUSSIONS OF LIVING UNDER NAZI IDEALS.
Writing essays for this standard.
NCEA Level 2 History (90469) 2009
Selected historical force or movement: IN THIS CASE Nazism Selected topic or setting: Germany in the Weimar / Nazi period. Specific group or individual attempting to improve the lives of their fellow countrymen and women: Hitler / Nazi party
Note: This Schedule considers attempts by Hitler / the Nazis to “improve” the lives of their fellow countrymen and women fromhis / their perspective.
Ways in which an historical force or movement influenced an individual or specific group of people to improve the lives of their fellow countrymen and women could include:
Nazism was a mix of new and much older traditions, which were intolerant of democracy: • Mythical glorious Aryan / Teutonic past (volkisch), which emphasised notions of peasant purity (“Blut und Boden” – “blood and soil”) and “traditional” gender roles. Tradition of submission to authoritarian rule (Bismarck and / or the Kaiser). • A tradition of “anti-reason” developed in 19th and early 20th century until it permeated German philosophy, literature (both academic and popular) and art and had reached a peak by the 1930s: “a solid bedrock of anti- individualist racial collectivism on which political circumstance allowed National Socialism to be built.” • Upsurge of “anti-rational” occult societies and activity from the late 19th Century that was a “fusion of German volkish neo-pagan romanticism and the doctrine of ... [Aryan racial superiority].” Fundamentals of Nazi ideology rejected the universal nature of democracy • Racial inequality (Untermensch/ “sub-human” Jews, gypsies, eastern Europeans etc) and thus necessity of “racial purity” for the herrenvolk (“master race”) Adaptation of Social Darwinism o Nietzsche’s “superman”, the creator of a new heroic morality, represented the highest passion and o creativity of mankind that would transcend the conventional standards of good and evil. His creative “will to power” would set him off from “the herd” of inferior humanity. In Hitler’s mind, the SS exemplified this spirit. Academic ability less important than physical prowess, especially military prowess for boys and o motherhood prowess for girls Opposition to “immoral” / modernist art, literature, music etc o • Exalting of the State over individual or sector interests Gleischaltung: all aspects of German life were to be co-ordinated, eg Nazi teachers’, youth, mothers’, o doctors’, labour organisations Nationalism and glorification of military conquest o • Fuhrerprinzip: adherence to the leader: “Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer (one people, one empire, one leader)” rejection of democracy (it was inherently weak and fostered disunity) and, especially, Bolshevism / o communism • Lebensraum: nationalist expansion and unification of all German-speaking peoples. • Opposition to the Treaty of Versailles and multi-lateralism (League of Nations) • (Early emphasis on socialist goals was de-emphasised as the Nazis rose towards power.) Impetus was given to Nazism by a number of formative events, leading to their challenge to the Weimar governments • Experiences of WWI, the shame of Germany’s surrender (“stab in the back” myth – Allied troops had not entered Germany before it surrendered), and the “betrayal” by the Weimar government that signed the Treaty of Versailles. • Post-WWI disruption, economic collapse (1923 hyperinflation / 1929 Depression), and “moral collapse” as modernist art and culture, as well as “immoral” cabarets etc proliferated. • Failure of the Weimar government to deal decisively with assassinations, attempted coups or putsches, and the consequent rise in influence of the Freikorp. The use of violence appeared to be effective. How successful these attempts were could include: (Prior to coming to power – Note: students did not necessarily need to cover this) • Vocal opposition to the Treaty of Versailles, in speeches and written material (this continued until the Nazis, when in power, revised, by one means or another, the terms of the Treaty). • Formation of the Stormtroopers (SA) to intimidate and disrupt opponents’ meetings, and publishing of the Volkischer Beobachter newspaper to express Nazi views. The SS (Schutzstaffel) was also formed as a personal bodyguard for Hitler. • Munich putsch, 1923 • In prison, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, a rambling exposition of his ideas, including a decision to pursue political means of gaining power. Hitler devoted himself thereafter to reorganising the Party in line with the Fuhrerprinzip (“Fuhrer principle”). Mass meetings, adoption of badges, flags, symbols (eg the swastika) and uniforms all helped embed the Nazi identity. • Hitler and the Nazi Party contested elections, resulting in Hitler accepting the Chancellorship in January 1933, with Wilhelm Frick as Minister of the Interior. • Took advantage of the Reichstag fire (27 Feb 1933) to persuade President Hindenburg to pass the “Decree for the Protection of the People and the State”, which allowed the Nazis to persecute their political opponents and restrict free speech, individual states’ powers, the right to hold meetings and freedom of the press. A full 50 000 SA men were recruited as “police auxiliaries’ to enforce the new law. All this was backed up by Goebbels’ incessant propaganda. • After the election in 1933, with a slender coalition majority, the Nazis outlawed the Communist party (KPD) then, with a Nazi majority in the reduced parliament, passed the “Enabling Act” (Law of removing the Distress from the People and Reich) in which, through intimidation and propaganda, the Reichstag voted itself out of existence. Hitler “legally” had his dictatorship.
After coming to power • Other political parties were either banned (the SPD) or disbanded themselves; all were outlawed in July 1933. State governments (except Prussia) were also abolished, being replaced by Nazi governors. • Concentration camps (eg Dachau outside Munich) were established to intern opponents • Hitler acted against Ernst Rohm and the SA in the “Night of the Long Knives” (June 1934), which brought this organisation firmly under Party control with the killing of over 100 SA men and other opponents. • After Hindenburg’s death in August 1934, Hitler assumed his powers. The Army, the only remaining threat to the Nazi power base, swore an oath of loyalty to the Fuhrer. • Economic policy of autarky introduced in order to reduced dependence on foreign imports • Policy of Gleischaltung implemented: all aspects of German life were to be co-ordinated, eg Nazi-controlled organisations for teachers’, youth, mothers’, doctors’, labour, entertainment, news media Education focused on military prowess for boys and motherhood for girls (with racial purity emphasised for o both). The Hitler Youth was established to further this aim, and it was given by law the same status as home and school in 1936. It was made compulsory in 1939. National Reich Protestant Church established in 1933, but it never fully supplanted the traditional o Protestant church (nor Catholic, although a 1933 Concordat with the Vatican smoothed relations) Public works schemes and conscription / rearmament (which was against the Treaty of Versailles) reduced o unemployment, while a German Labour Front supplanted trade unions. A Beauty of Work scheme also improved working conditions and the Strength for Joy scheme provided leisure opportunities. Mass marches and celebrations were held to consolidate the Nazis’ place in society. o • Persecution of the Jews was stepped up. In April 1933 a boycott of all Jewish shops was ordered, and shortly after Jews were banned from : o government jobs. In 1935 ,Jews were banned from serving in the Army. Passed shortly thereafter, the “Nuremberg Laws” prohibited marriages between Jews and non-Jews (Law for the Protection of German Blood). In September, the Reich Citizenship Law removed all citizenship rights from Jews, making them “aliens” in Germany. Other laws followed which forced Jews out of other aspects of civil life, such as practising law, business and medicine. Attacks against Jews increased. In August 1938, all Jews had to add new names to their identity documents (‘Israel” for men; “Sarah” for women), plus have a large red “J” stamped in them. Jewish children were banned from German schools. Mass marches and celebrations were held to consolidate the Nazis’ place in society. o In November 1938, there were all-out attacks on Jews, Jewish businesses and synagogues occurred o (Kristallnacht) in response to the assassination in France of a German embassy official by a Polish Jew. About 100 Jews were killed and 20 000 sent to concentration camps. Although the German public were shocked, the Nazis continued their persecution, blaming the Jews themselves for the violence and fining them as a community for the damages. Foreign policy: the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were systematically revised. Reparations practically ceased in 1933; the Rhineland was remilitarised in 1935; Anschluss with Austria was carried out successfully in 1938; after the Munich Conference that year, Germany annexed the Sudetenland and in March 1939 occupied much of the rest of Czechoslovakia. The signing of the Soviet-German Non-aggression pact in August 1939 paved the way for the invasion of Poland in September 1939.
(World War II) • In line with the policy of Lebensraum and the Nazi racial ideology, Germany invaded Poland, sparking what would become WWII. • Initially, Jews in Poland were gathered into ghettos (eg Warsaw) as the Nazis tried to figure out what to do with them. Forced labour became common. After the invasion of Russia in June 1941, Jews were systematically rounded up and shot by Einsatzgruppen (Special Task Forces). • In the summer of 1941, Die Endlosung (Final Solution) was formulated in response to the “Jewish problem”. The first death camp was built at Belzec on the eastern Polish border and began operation in March 1942. Overall, more than 30 death camps were established (and numerous concentration and labour camps), with over 4.5 million people being exterminated between 1942 and 1945.
Describe and explain the background and outcomes of an event that brought about political change . How did a historical force or movement related to this event have an influence on ordinary peoples lives at the time?
Event Hitler becoming dictator of Germany - sweeping aside democracy in favour of an autocratic dictatorship which was intolerant of difference and demanded the commitment and dedication of the ordinary German people to the advancement of a Nazi fascist German nationalism.
The historical force or movement, that was the Nazi Party, had a huge influence on the lives of ordinary German people: employment, national self-esteem, economic recovery, war, genocide, poverty and a Berlin Wall. (See how you can use this terminology - historical force or movement - in the same breath as the Nazi Party as I have done) Very sneaky!
When Adolf Hitler was made Chancellor for the democratic Weimar Republic government in Germany on 30 January 1933, an important political change was made.Instead of being a democratic socialist government, Hitler's government slowly became an autocratic dictatorship intolerant of difference, with its voice firmly advocating the advancement of German Nationalism and the unwavering commitment and sacrifice of individual Germans to this nationalism. The initial event that brought about this political change in Germany was Germany's loss of and blame for the First World War. This event was accompanied by the Treaty of Versailles, The Wall Street Crash, and an economic and political crisis. After Hitler became Chancellor, the Reichstag Fire enabled him to be granted Emergency Powers and ban the Communist Party. The Enabling Act then effectively allowed Hitler to turn Germany into an autocratic dictatorship led by the Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party (NAZI). The event of Hitler taking control of Germany as an autocratic dictator and eliminating the fledgling democracy, had a profound influence on the lives and liberties of ordinary people at the time. Nazism spread through the use of propaganda, brainwashing people into following Nazi idealogy. Germany became a terror state where citizens lived in fear of their government. Many historians believe that even if Hitler had not risen to power, it was unlikely that Germany would have remained as a democratic country because people wanted a strong leader-not an indecisive government which appeared weak in the face of all the economic, political and social challenges brought about by losing World War One.
As stated, the background to the event that brought about political change in Germany with the formation of a dictatorship and ending of a democracy, was Germany's loss of World War 1. The description of the background to this event can be described as a series of unwitting steps and responses by inexperienced democratic politicians in government during Weimar's Republic.
Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles by the allies. The Kaiser lost all the army’s support and was forced to abdicate the throne. The Weimar Republic Government was formed on the 9th of November 1918 with Scheidemann as Chancellor and Ebert as the President. The Germans were very proud of their war effort and their soldiers and were thus humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles and felt betrayed that the new Government would sign the Treaty.The terms of the Treaty were tough: Germany had a great deal of land taken away and had to pay reparations with many other serious consequences. The Government attempted to overcome this issue by printing more money collapsing the value of currency. With little production but plenty of paper money, prices increased rapidly.
In 1919, the Socialist German Workers Party was formed and by 1921, Hitler was their leader. He immediately started promoting his ideas and began to gather supporters. This is also when Hitler claimed to have designed the Nazi Party’s emblem the swastika, and the S.A (Sturm Abteilung) was set up to give the movement the ability to terrorise. Because so many Germans felt betrayed by the Weimar Republic because of the Treaty of Versailles and their current econonmic crisis, Hitler felt it was time to take control of Germany through a violent takeover as he believed the people would support him instead of the humiliating Republic. This however was not the case as Hitler was arrested for what is known as the Beerhall Putsch where he and the S.A virtually kidnapped some Bavarian state leaders and forced them to join the revolt. While in prison, Hitler refined his ideas and dictated his book Mein Kampf –My Struggle. This is when Hitler realised that he would have to take control of the Republic Democratically. Hitler also gained public recognition at his trial for pointing out the governments failings. Although he was sentenced to five years in prison he was released after only six months.
Over the next few years, Hitler gained a large amount of support through public meetings and Nazi Propaganda, however this support decreased when Stresemann became Chancellor as he started to change the economy for the better. The economy prospered from 1923 to 1927 with unemployment halving and industry flourished with a large export trade. The Dawes Plan and the Young Plan were both introduced to help Germany's economy stabalise. This was not good for Hitler as up until this point, he had based his political campaigns on the failure of the Weimar Government, and as this was not happening, his support decreased. The Nazi Party continued to rally for democratic election. Luckily for Hitler, Stresemann died in 1929 and three weeks later, the Wall Street Crash occurred and Germany was once again, in an economic crisis. Germans began to panic as unemployment grew rapidly and their economy began to collapse once again. They began to look at extremist groups - Nazis and Communists alike - for the answer to their problems which is why Nazi’s support increased very rapidly over a short space of time. Hitler was able to promote his party and get seats in the Reichstag (Government) and their support continued to grow. Aided by propaganda chief, Dr. Goebbels, Hitler became well-known and Nazism spread throughout Germany. At this time, Hindenburg was president and the Chancellor was constantly changing which lead to many disagreements between those in the Reichstag causing many political crises. In a short space of time, many elections were held in which Hitler decided to run for President. Although narrowly missing out to Hindenburg, Hitler had achieved half the number of seats in the Reichstag. Although Hindenburg wasn’t sure Hitler could be trusted, the ex-chancellor told the president that Hitler could be controlled, and soon after on the 30th of January 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor. This appointment of Hitler, an autocratic dictator in democratic socialist disguise, to the position of Chancellor was to lead to important political change for Germany. Further, Hitler was able to use make use of a fire in the Reichstag to blame the Communist's agitation . He was able to persuade Hindenburg to grant him use of the emergency decree “The Reichstag Fire Decree”. Reichstagsbrandverordnung is the common name of the Order of the Reich President for the Protection of People and State : Verordnung des Reichspräsidenten zum Schutz von Volk und Staat). This decree on February 27th 1933 nullified many of the key civil liberties of German citizens. With Nazis in powerful positions in the German goverment, the decree was used as the legal basis for the imprisonment of anyone considered to be opponents of the Nazis, and to suppress publications not considered "friendly" to the Nazi cause. The decree is considered by historians to be one of the key steps in the establishment of a one-party Nazi state in Germany.which gave Hitler the right to pass laws without consulting Hindeburg or the Reichstag. Hitler used this power to ban Communist members of the Reichstag, effectively ridding himself of his strongest Parliamentary competition. Finally, on March 24, 1933, Hitler established his dictatorship by enacting the Enabling Act granting the Cabinet the authority to enact laws without the participation of the Reichstag. The Act initially provided that it would have effect for only four years, but it was formally renewed by the Reichstag in 1937 and 1941. The formal name of the Enabling Act was Gesetz zur Behebung der Not von Volk und Reich: "Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Reich.”. Hitler's Enabling Act effectively ended democracy and Hitler became a dictator with complete control over the German economy and society, and foreign and domestic policy. Therefore, it was the loss and blame for WW1 and having a weak, inexperienced democratic government to cope with economic and social disruption which provided the background to the event of Hitler becoming dictator in German. An event with brought about a marked political change because it dispensed with democracy and civil liberties in Germany.
The historical force or movement that was the German Nazi Party, had a profound influence on the lives of the ordinary German people. Hitler banned all other Political Parties, took over trade unions, took control of press, radio and cinemas, arrested Nazi opponents and issued an emergency law taking away press freedom and fair trial rights. The Nazi’s also used fear to control the republic using the SS and the Gestapo.Anyone who spoke out against the Nazi Party’s rules was executed creating a state of fear in the Germans. Women were kicked out of their jobs because they had to stay at home and look after their families thus it was ‘not appropriate’ for them to work. Before rising to power, Hitler made lowering unemployment rates one of his priorities, which he did by building a highway right through Germany. This gave thousands of people jobs, which appealed to the public, and unemployment began decreasing. All children from the age of 5 to 18 were all forced to join the Hitler Youth where physical activity was encouraged as was the knowledge of blood purity which the children also learnt as a subject at school. All propaganda was controlled by the Nazi Party and was all in favour of Hitler, creating the ‘Hitler Myth’ where Hitler is portrayed as a superhuman; a God-like figure. He was called Fuhrer. Dr Joseph Goebbels, head of Propaganda, controlled all of the media including newspapers, radio, movies, art, music and literature which had to be approved before it was allowed to appear in public. When Hitler first came to power, it looked as if he was going to leave religions to continue to operate in peace, especially after signing a concordat with the Catholic Church. Unfortunately this was short-lived, as he soon started executing priests and nuns, while promoting paganism as their ideal religion. At this point in time, almost all beliefs and values that German people held were in favour of the ‘ideal’ Nazi way of life, through the constant brainwashing. If a person thought differently or did not follow Nazi Policy, he or she was very likely to end up in a concentration camp or executed.
The ordinary German people had looked to Hitler to improve their lives both economically and spiritually. They looked for employment and the ability to achieve a national self-esteem. In some ways, this is true, he did help lower the level of unemployment in Germany, yet he also executed anyone who spoke out against his policies. The Treaty of Versailles, Beerhall Putsch, Wall Street Crash and political instability all contributed towards Hitler Becoming Chancellor. Once he was in power, the Reichstag Fire allowed him to be given emergency powers so he could ban the Communist Party. Then following with the Enabling Act, Hitler was able to pass laws himself and gain full control over Germany as the dictator.Hitler's becoming Chancellor was a significant political change for Germany as democracy gave way to an autocratic dictatorship intolerent of difference and demanding commitment and obedience to Nazi-styled German nationalism. German citizens were affected by the propaganda, fear of execution, Hitler Youth, and disruption of religion as Nazism spread throughout Germany in the years following Hitler being appointed as Chancellor. Although Hitler did brainwash people into following his own Nazi idealogy, one can clearly see that the preconditions for the ordinary German people to fall off the wagon of democracy and follow extreme solutions to their economic and social disruption, and damaged national pride were there. These preconditions led to the “main event” - Hitler wiping away democrary by becoming dictator of a Nazi fascist state. The historical force or movement, that was the Nazi Party served up profound changes for the ordinary German: economic recovery, regained national pride, war, genocide, poverty and a Berlin Wall.
P.S Don't confuse the words Nationalism with Nazism.
Explain how an historical force or movement influenced an individual and/or group to seek change. What were the consequences of actions taken by the individual or group to bring about change? Explain why they took this course.
FORCE = FACISM
INTRODUCTION - write an opening paragraph that briefly identifies:
-the force or movement FASCISM and its historical setting AFTER WW1 IN ITALY SPAIN JAPAN GERMANY
-the individual or group that wished to bring about change NAZIS
-the nature of the change that the individual or group wished to bring about- END THE DEMOCRACY OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC AND REPLACE IT WITH A NAZI GOVERNMENT
-the consequences of actions taken to bring about change. - EROSION OF WEIMAR REPUBLIC, RIGHTS, FREEDOMS AND REPERCUSSIONS OF LIVING UNDER NAZI IDEALS.
Writing essays for this standard.
NCEA Level 2 History (90469) 2009
Selected historical force or movement: IN THIS CASE Nazism
Selected topic or setting: Germany in the Weimar / Nazi period.
Specific group or individual attempting to improve the lives of their fellow countrymen and women: Hitler / Nazi party
Note: This Schedule considers attempts by Hitler / the Nazis to “improve” the lives of their fellow countrymen and women from his / their perspective.
Ways in which an historical force or movement influenced an individual or specific group of people to improve the lives of their fellow countrymen and women could include:
Nazism was a mix of new and much older traditions, which were intolerant of democracy:
• Mythical glorious Aryan / Teutonic past (volkisch), which emphasised notions of peasant purity (“Blut und Boden” – “blood and soil”) and “traditional” gender roles. Tradition of submission to authoritarian rule (Bismarck and / or the Kaiser).
• A tradition of “anti-reason” developed in 19th and early 20th century until it permeated German philosophy, literature (both academic and popular) and art and had reached a peak by the 1930s: “a solid bedrock of anti- individualist racial collectivism on which political circumstance allowed National Socialism to be built.”
• Upsurge of “anti-rational” occult societies and activity from the late 19th Century that was a “fusion of German volkish neo-pagan romanticism and the doctrine of ... [Aryan racial superiority].”
Fundamentals of Nazi ideology rejected the universal nature of democracy
• Racial inequality (Untermensch/ “sub-human” Jews, gypsies, eastern Europeans etc) and thus necessity of “racial purity” for the herrenvolk (“master race”)
Adaptation of Social Darwinism
o Nietzsche’s “superman”, the creator of a new heroic morality, represented the highest passion and
o creativity of mankind that would transcend the conventional standards of good and evil. His creative “will to power” would set him off from “the herd” of inferior humanity. In Hitler’s mind, the SS exemplified this spirit. Academic ability less important than physical prowess, especially military prowess for boys and
o motherhood prowess for girls
Opposition to “immoral” / modernist art, literature, music etc
o • Exalting of the State over individual or sector interests
Gleischaltung: all aspects of German life were to be co-ordinated, eg Nazi teachers’, youth, mothers’,
o doctors’, labour organisations
Nationalism and glorification of military conquest
o
• Fuhrerprinzip: adherence to the leader: “Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer (one people, one empire, one leader)” rejection of democracy (it was inherently weak and fostered disunity) and, especially, Bolshevism /
o communism
• Lebensraum: nationalist expansion and unification of all German-speaking peoples.
• Opposition to the Treaty of Versailles and multi-lateralism (League of Nations)
• (Early emphasis on socialist goals was de-emphasised as the Nazis rose towards power.)
Impetus was given to Nazism by a number of formative events, leading to their challenge to the Weimar governments
• Experiences of WWI, the shame of Germany’s surrender (“stab in the back” myth – Allied troops had not entered Germany before it surrendered), and the “betrayal” by the Weimar government that signed the Treaty of Versailles.
• Post-WWI disruption, economic collapse (1923 hyperinflation / 1929 Depression), and “moral collapse” as modernist art and culture, as well as “immoral” cabarets etc proliferated.
• Failure of the Weimar government to deal decisively with assassinations, attempted coups or putsches, and the consequent rise in influence of the Freikorp. The use of violence appeared to be effective.
How successful these attempts were could include:
(Prior to coming to power – Note: students did not necessarily need to cover this)
• Vocal opposition to the Treaty of Versailles, in speeches and written material (this continued until the Nazis, when in power, revised, by one means or another, the terms of the Treaty).
• Formation of the Stormtroopers (SA) to intimidate and disrupt opponents’ meetings, and publishing of the
Volkischer Beobachter newspaper to express Nazi views. The SS (Schutzstaffel) was also formed as a personal bodyguard for Hitler.
• Munich putsch, 1923
• In prison, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, a rambling exposition of his ideas, including a decision to pursue political means of gaining power. Hitler devoted himself thereafter to reorganising the Party in line with the Fuhrerprinzip (“Fuhrer principle”). Mass meetings, adoption of badges, flags, symbols (eg the swastika) and uniforms all helped embed the Nazi identity.
• Hitler and the Nazi Party contested elections, resulting in Hitler accepting the Chancellorship in January 1933, with Wilhelm Frick as Minister of the Interior.
• Took advantage of the Reichstag fire (27 Feb 1933) to persuade President Hindenburg to pass the “Decree for the Protection of the People and the State”, which allowed the Nazis to persecute their political opponents and restrict free speech, individual states’ powers, the right to hold meetings and freedom of the press. A full 50 000 SA men were recruited as “police auxiliaries’ to enforce the new law. All this was backed up by Goebbels’ incessant propaganda.
• After the election in 1933, with a slender coalition majority, the Nazis outlawed the Communist party (KPD) then, with a Nazi majority in the reduced parliament, passed the “Enabling Act” (Law of removing the Distress from the People and Reich) in which, through intimidation and propaganda, the Reichstag voted itself out of existence. Hitler “legally” had his dictatorship.
After coming to power
• Other political parties were either banned (the SPD) or disbanded themselves; all were outlawed in July 1933. State governments (except Prussia) were also abolished, being replaced by Nazi governors.
• Concentration camps (eg Dachau outside Munich) were established to intern opponents
• Hitler acted against Ernst Rohm and the SA in the “Night of the Long Knives” (June 1934), which brought this organisation firmly under Party control with the killing of over 100 SA men and other opponents.
• After Hindenburg’s death in August 1934, Hitler assumed his powers. The Army, the only remaining threat to the Nazi power base, swore an oath of loyalty to the Fuhrer.
• Economic policy of autarky introduced in order to reduced dependence on foreign imports
• Policy of Gleischaltung implemented: all aspects of German life were to be co-ordinated, eg Nazi-controlled organisations for teachers’, youth, mothers’, doctors’, labour, entertainment, news media Education focused on military prowess for boys and motherhood for girls (with racial purity emphasised for
o
both). The Hitler Youth was established to further this aim, and it was given by law the same status as home and school in 1936. It was made compulsory in 1939.
National Reich Protestant Church established in 1933, but it never fully supplanted the traditional
o
Protestant church (nor Catholic, although a 1933 Concordat with the Vatican smoothed relations)
Public works schemes and conscription / rearmament (which was against the Treaty of Versailles) reduced
o
unemployment, while a German Labour Front supplanted trade unions. A Beauty of Work scheme also improved working conditions and the Strength for Joy scheme provided leisure opportunities.
Mass marches and celebrations were held to consolidate the Nazis’ place in society.
o
• Persecution of the Jews was stepped up.
In April 1933 a boycott of all Jewish shops was ordered, and shortly after Jews were banned from :
o
government jobs. In 1935 ,Jews were banned from serving in the Army. Passed shortly thereafter, the “Nuremberg Laws” prohibited marriages between Jews and non-Jews (Law for the Protection of German Blood). In September, the Reich Citizenship Law removed all citizenship rights from Jews, making them “aliens” in Germany. Other laws followed which forced Jews out of other aspects of civil life, such as practising law, business and medicine. Attacks against Jews increased. In August 1938, all Jews had to add new names to their identity documents (‘Israel” for men; “Sarah” for women), plus have a large red “J” stamped in them. Jewish children were banned from German schools.
Mass marches and celebrations were held to consolidate the Nazis’ place in society.
o
In November 1938, there were all-out attacks on Jews, Jewish businesses and synagogues occurred
o
(Kristallnacht) in response to the assassination in France of a German embassy official by a Polish Jew. About 100 Jews were killed and 20 000 sent to concentration camps. Although the German public were shocked, the Nazis continued their persecution, blaming the Jews themselves for the violence and fining them as a community for the damages.
Foreign policy: the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were systematically revised. Reparations practically ceased in 1933; the Rhineland was remilitarised in 1935; Anschluss with Austria was carried out successfully in 1938; after the Munich Conference that year, Germany annexed the Sudetenland and in March 1939 occupied much of the rest of Czechoslovakia. The signing of the Soviet-German Non-aggression pact in August 1939 paved the way for the invasion of Poland in September 1939.
(World War II)
• In line with the policy of Lebensraum and the Nazi racial ideology, Germany invaded Poland, sparking what would become WWII.
• Initially, Jews in Poland were gathered into ghettos (eg Warsaw) as the Nazis tried to figure out what to do with them. Forced labour became common. After the invasion of Russia in June 1941, Jews were systematically rounded up and shot by Einsatzgruppen (Special Task Forces).
• In the summer of 1941, Die Endlosung (Final Solution) was formulated in response to the “Jewish problem”.
The first death camp was built at Belzec on the eastern Polish border and began operation in March 1942.
Overall, more than 30 death camps were established (and numerous concentration and labour camps), with
over 4.5 million people being exterminated between 1942 and 1945.